Seasonal Concerns

MARCI SHATZMAN

Gil Lachow knows being a snowbird is a hot-button issue in these parts, and he decided to do something about the attitude toward seasonal residents, as they sometimes prefer to call themselves.

So, he has started an umbrella organization of snowbird clubs in the communities west of Boynton Beach. The next meeting is 10 a.m. Feb. 7 in Ponte Vecchio, where Gil has lived for four years and is president of the Seasonal Club.

Don't call them snowbird issues, by the way, because that's too negative for Gil, a well-spoken and mild-mannered man who feels strongly that you never get anything accomplished by being negative.

His attitude is catching on.

"He really has it together," said Bobbie Karolides, who started the snowbird club in her community of Venetian Isles, which is up to 143 members from 12 three years ago.

Bobbie said they don't have any snowbird issues (sorry, Gil) in Venetian Isles now, but when the place first opened, they had trouble reserving space in the clubhouse for their get togethers and she was on the phone from Maine in the summer trying to nail that down. That's behind them, and Bobbie, a diplomat herself, said she doesn't consider it a snub, just the organizational jitters every new community goes through. Their annual ice-cream social is in the clubhouse, although many of their activities are off premises, such as a theater outing.

When Gil called her about getting together with other snowbird clubs to share their experiences and learn from each other, she said she thought it was a great idea.

Apparently so did other snowbird organizers. About 10 communities out of the 15 he called showed up for his first meeting last March, among them Platina, The Grove, Palm Chase Lakes, Tuscany Bay, Cascades and Coral Lakes.

Gil said people wanted to talk about improving what their clubs were doing for their membership. The meetings do not degenerate into gripe sessions.

"His approach is excellent," Bobbie said.

She likes listening to what other developments are doing and booked an indoor barbecue at Ellie's 50's Diner Jan. 25, after another club recommended it.

Likewise, Gil adopted a sign-in book that Bobbie's club put together for newcomers looking for golf, cards or mah-jongg partners.

Although they're keeping it light, Gil said he knows there are more substantive concerns that snowbird clubs may find informative. For instance, Gil was instrumental in having the homeowner association board candidates' night and election dates changed in Ponte Vecchio from the fall to later in season, when all the snowbirds are here, which they did for the first time this year.

"He approached me about it, and I thought it was a good idea. It would help us get a quorum," said Joe Cohen, the board treasurer.

The change went through smoothly with no contention, Gil and Joe said, which is just the way Gil likes things to go.

"We should not be confrontational and competitive. We're a part of the community, not apart from it," he said.

"We blend into the community," Bobbie added.

To reach Gil to RSVP for the meeting, call him at 561-737-5054 or e-mail him at fgilach@aol.com.

Marci Shatzman writes about the gated adult communities west of Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Lantana and in Wellington. You can reach her at granddame@adelphia.net.